Whether he stays or goes, Wayne Rooney is a talent

As uncertainty continues to surround Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United future, it is important to remember just how good of a player he is.

Arriving at Old Trafford at just 18 years of age, Rooney had to prove to the rest of the world just why Sir Alex Ferguson had paid over £25 million for him.  Over the last nine seasons, he has done just that.

Scoring 141 goals in 277 Premier League games for United leaves him a ratio of better than a goal every other game, whilst his record in all competitions is almost as good on 197 in 400.  Not to forget that Rooney is not just and out-and-out striker, but also links up the play from midfield and has also been utilised out wide.  His work rate is one of the biggest attributes of his game and he has been an integral part of all of the Red Devils’ recent success.

A local hero at Everton, Rooney won over the fans of their Manchester rivals after his switch from Goodison Park.  Given the history and bitterness between the clubs, this was not an easy task, but his performances and effort on the pitch saw the young Scouser hailed as a United great.

Rooney’s loyalty was first called into question when he left the Toffees, after once revealing a message on his shirt reading ‘Once a Blue, Always a Blue’.  Up until recent events, his biggest issue at Old Trafford was in 2010, when he threatened to leave United before performing a dramatic U-turn and signing a new deal with the club.

Despite David Moyes’ insistence that he is not for sale, have we seen the last of Wayne Rooney in a United shirt?

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